Falling For Sundae

Chapter 2

( His Perspective )

_

Hush baby, please.

"Good morning Ma'am, welcome to Jollibee. May I take your order please?"

"Sundae." Her voice was plain.

"Sundae lang po Ma'am?" I asked. Parang may pinagdadaan ata siya.

"Just sundae."

"Okay.."

She wasn't smiling.

She wasn't cheerful this time.

"Here's your order Ma'am, enjoy your meal.." Sinubukan ko pa ding ngumiti.

Baka sakali mahawaan ko siya ng good mood.

She's been coming here for a while and this is the first time I've seen her like this.

Matamlay siyang naglakad papunta sa sulok.

Her usual spot.

Pasulyap sulyap ako sa kanya. Dammit. Hindi ako maka alis sa post ko. Gusto ko syang makita. I know something is wrong. Gusto ko siyang lapitan. Pero ang FC ko naman kung gagawin ko yun bigla.

Kaunti lang ang tao ngayon. Malakas ang ulan sa labas. Iilang upuan lang ang occupied at wala ng pila sa counter. Lumapit sa akin si Basty. He tapped my shoulders.

"Go talk to her. Ako na muna dito. Total tapos na rin naman ang shift mo. You know you want to." He said. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. How the hell did he know? Teka, magtataka pa ba ako? Eh halos lahat ng kasamahan ko dito alam na lagi ko siyang pinagmamasdan.

I don't know what magic she has to lure me into her system. This is definitely the first.

"Puntahan mo na!" Pangungulit ni Basty sabay tulak sakin. Damn this asshole. Kung makatulak naman.

"Move your ass, fucker. O baka gusto mong unahan kita?"

"Ang creepy ko naman ata kung gagawin ko yun. Para kang tanga." Sagot ko. I don't want her to think I'm a creep and make her uncomfortable!

"It's not like you're gonna ask her out and insist even if she says no. Yung ang gago. Dude she's crying oh. At least give her a tissue or something." I looked at her direction and sure enough humihikbi sya. Damn. Should I go? I don't want to startle her.

"Ayaw mo ba? Ako lalapit."

Nanliit ak mata ko sa sinabi niya. Kilalang playboy si Basty, so no way I'm gonna let him get near her. I raised my middle finger at him.

"Move, asshole! Move!"

Tumango ako kay Basty. Nagmamadali akong nagpunta sa locker para magbihis. Paglabas ko agad kong sinilip ang upuan niya. But she wasn't there anymore.

Dammit. Malakas ang ulan! Umalis na ba siya?

Sumulyap ako kay Basty sa counter. Nakuha niya agad ang ibig kong sabihin. He pointed her fingers outside.

She was leaning on the glass. Trying to shelter herself from the rain.

Agad akong lumabas. I took the umbrella out of my bag. Naglakad ako papunta sa kanya when all of a sudden.. I tripped.

Fuck.

Dali dali akong tumayo.

You can do this, Nathan. Kaya ko to. Bakit ba ako kinakabahan?

Fuck. This is so gay. Ibibigay ko lang naman yung payong bat nanginginig ako?

Nilapitan ko siya.

Inhale. Exhale.

I lifted my hand and handed her my umbrella.

"Miss, payong oh.."

Inaangat niya ang ulo niya at napatingin sa kung sino man ang nag aabot ng payong sa kanya.

What if she thinks I'm weird?

Paano kung trip niya palang tumunganga sa ulan?

Baka bigla niya akong hampasin ng payong.

Shit.

"B-baka gusto mo ng umuwi. Gamitin mo muna yung payong ko." I quickly stated. Mahirap na. I don't wanna seem like a creep. I nervously stood there as she looks at me.

Nakatingin siya ng diretso sa mata ko. There was no emotions in her eyes. Matamlay at parang pagod. Napakamot ko sa batok.

She definitely thinks I'm a creep.

Good job, Nathaniel. You screw it up.

Fuck.

"Ayaw mo ba ng payong?" I asked again. Hindi pa rin siya sumagot but her eyes starts tearing up.

What the

She was crying. Nakatingin pa rin siya sakin.

Fuuu

"Te-teka miss, huwag kang umiyak. Wala naman akong masamang intensyon. Aayaw mo ba ng payong? P-pasensya na. Hindi na kita guguluhin. Sorry. Sorry."

This was my chance and I messed it up! Sigh.

I turned around and was about to walk away. But she grabbed the edge of my hoodie. Napahinto ako.

"Please.. stay."

She rested her forehead on my back as she cry.

She was bawling her eyes out.

Mas lalo pang lumakas ang ulan.

I wanted to say something. I wanted to ask what was wrong.

I want to make her feel safe.

I wanted to comfort her.

But instead, I remained silent.

Sometimes, it's enough just to be there.